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The Lord Shiva and Shivaratri

By Dirgha Raj Prasai

Kathmandu, Nepal February 11 2018

Shivaratri 2074 B.S (20018) Hindus are devoting with celebrating the lord Shiva on the occasion of 'Shivaratri'-2074. In this year, Sivaratri is celebrating especially, Nepal and India and in all over the Siva temples in the world.

According to the Hindu Mythology, Lord Shiva (Pashupatinath) spent his most of his time on the top of the holy mount Kailas Mansharobar, practicing Yogic austere, joy and love with his divine consort Parbati (mother of mythology), The Lake Mansarowers and the holy mount Kailas are the soul of all 'OM' followers in the world. The Lord Pashupathinath, Shoyambhunath, Lumbini, Barahachetra, Gosaikunda, Muktinath, Ridi, Janakidham, Devghat of Nepal, Kailash Mansharobar of Tibet (well accessed for Hindus and Buddhas), and Tirupati, Rameshroram, Jagannath, Badrinath, Amarnath, Kedarnath of India are the symbolic shrines of Hinduism & Buddhism. 'Doleswar Mahadev (lord Shiv) (Shipadol-Bhaktapur-Nepal) is the head portion of the Kedarnath (lord Shiv).

The spiritual importance of Mahashivaratri indicates that ethics, morale and integrity have almost been mere world. The spiritual knowledge the Almighty is imparting to the human beings the rays of hope to all of us. The religious scholar express- Mahashivaratri is the day of incarnation of Lord Shiva when the world is experiencing lack of light or knowledge or when it is just like a dark night in the absence of knowledge. The creator of human world messages to all for peace purity and prosperity.

The name Shiva expresses His quality. The God Shiva is incorporeal, eternal, almighty, highest of the high, never takes birth but incarnates in an ordinary human body once in a cycle, accepted by all, omniscient and omnipotent but not omnipresent. Most religions of the world have images, idols or memorials bearing one name or the other to represent the God as light or as an oval shape. Throughout Nepal, India and other countries of the world there are statues of oval shape images. They are called Shivalingams that represent the creator Himself. Somnath-the lord of Nectar, Viswanath-the lord of the Universe and Pasupatinath- the lord Nath) of the lord (Pati) of animal.'

The Lord Shiva is believed to be at the core of the centrifugal force of the universe. Unlike Brahma, the Creator, or Vishnu, the Preserver, Shiva is the dissolving force in life. But Shiva dissolves in order to create, since death is the medium for rebirth into a new life. So the opposites of life and death and that of creation and destruction both reside in Him. Shiva, represented as the symbol of the eternal process of creation and destruction, is absolutely independent and creates all that exists under the influence of desire by the mere force of HIS WILL (Iccha Shakti). He makes the world appear in Himself as if it were distinct from Himself, though it is not so in reality.

Shiv Puran also mentions It.'-(Shree 1008 Jagat Guru Bheemashankarling Shivacharya). Similarly, the Swayambhunath complex consists of a stupa, a variety of shrines and temples, some dating back to the Licchavi period. A Tibetan monastery, museum and library are more recent additions. The stupa has Buddha's eyes and eyebrows painted on. Between them, there is something painted which looks the nose - but is the Nepali symbol of 'unity'. Pashupathinath, Shoyambhunath both are Hindus and Buddhists shrine place. There are some very early Buddhist sculptures here. A lingam, now lost, was named Karunikeswar, another name of the Buddha.

Nepal is known pious land in the world. Hindu philosophy and its culture and tradition are the founder of world civilization. Hindu shrine Pashupatinath (Shiva) is the Lord of all Hindus. According to Hindu mythology, Shiva is worshipped as protector of all animals, including humans. The Nepalese and Indian Hindu men and women perform rituals for the Hindu god Lord Shiva- the god of destruction and creation. In Sivaratri, Axyatritiya, Janaipurnima, Tij and Sawan Mondays are most remarkable times in every year.

We pray to the Lord Shiva, as - "OM! Namo Sivaya ! O Shiva! We worship and adore you, O three-eyed one, you are sweet gladness, the fragrance of life, which nourishes us, restores our health, and causes us to thrive. As, in due time, the stem of the cucumber weakens, and the gourd is freed from the vine, so free us from attachment and death, and do not withhold immortality." The devotees of Lord keep reciting the five letters-'Om Nama Shivaya' followed by occasional singing of Vajanas- hymns, reading and listing to stories and episodes on Shivamahatmyas and by worshiping the Shivalinga.

A scholar Upananda Brahmachari explains- (Hindu Existence July 14, 2012) 'As per Hindu realization (one may degenerate it by calling it Hindu mythology) with a subtle scientific approach, Lord Shiva (Nataraja) is described as Devadideva, the primordial god of all gods, the supreme creator and the Mahadeva, the greatest god, the supreme source of energy. Shiva is the cosmic dancer who performs his divine dance to destroy a weary universe and make preparations for god Brahma to start the process of creation afresh. This new creation is harmonized and preserved by god Vishnu, obviously by the force of trinity in the singularized and unique entity originated from that Devadideva or Mahadeva. Lord Shiva, the Grand Designer. Lord Mahakal. Shiva is dancing in an aureole of flames with a rhythm of time infinite so beautifully, lifting his left leg and balancing over a demon or dwarf (Apasmara) who symbolizes ignorance and evils. OM! Namah Shiva. It means adorn all endeavors in the light of truth, prosperity and maturity'.

The festival of Shivaratri has tremendous significance in Hinduism. According to sacred scriptures, ritual worship of Lord Shiva on Shivratri festival that falls on the 14th day of the dark fortnight in the month of Phalgun (Feb.) pleases Lord Shiva the most. This fact is said to have been declared by Lord Shiva himself, when his consort the Goddess-Parvati asked him as to which ritual performed by his devotees pleases him the most. Even till date, devotees of Lord Shiva perform the ritual worship of Shivratri with care and devotion. They observe day and nigh fast and give sacred bath to Shiva-Linga with honey, milk, water etc. Hindus consider it extremely auspicious to worship Lord Shiva on a Shivaratri as it is believed that worship of Lord Shiva with devotion and sincerity absolves a devotee of past sins. The devotee reaches the abode of Lord Shanker and lives there happily. It is said that Lord Shiva is an avid dancer to, as one of the superb type of oriental dances. The Lord is always engaged in meditation, Shiva is also NATARAJ, the cosmic dancer who graphically expresses the rhythmic unity of life. His representation as the Shivalinga symbolizes at its simplest His creative and generative powers. Being of an elliptical shape, the Lingam denotes something which has neither beginning nor an end.

It is mysterious to express that rainfall flows automatically in Shivaratri almost Feb.-March, similarly, in Mekh Sankranti (Baisak 1st) almost April,14-15, Srawan Sankranti 17th July and Makar Sankranti almost 15th Jan. The Sivaratri (Day of Lord Shiva) is also is countable event in Hindu festival. In these days- there is natural gift where Sky thundering or rainfall flows.

The Mahashivaratri-festival is observed with great devotion by all the Hindus in the world. 'Shivaratri is a festival of great significance for Hindus all over the globe. Literally meaning Shiva’s night, it represents the high state of spiritual realization when the world of relativity fades away and perfect peace and calm prevails. On this phenomenal night, the seeker remains fully aware of his identity with Shiva, the source of perennial joy and thus experiences eternal truth, bliss and lasting beauty-Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram. Esoterically, it is the most sacred moment of the union of Jiva, individual soul, and Paramatma, the Supreme Godhead.'(United Hindu front)

The Lord Pashupatinath Temple sits on a sacred river on the edge of Bagmati, Kathmandu. The Bagmati River which runs next to Pashupatinath Temple has highly sacred properties. Thus the banks are lined with many Ghats for use by pilgrims. The Bagmati River is a river of Nepal its flows through the Kathmandu valley and is the river separating Kathmandu from Lalitpur. It is considered a holy river both by Hindus and Buddhists. A number of Hindu temples are located on the banks of this river.

The complex rises up from the bank amid a mass of pagoda- style buildings. The temple moves to ancient rhythms. And one of its many traditions has been to recruit its priests from Brahmins from far-away south India. But, for the first time, the south Indians have been replaced by local, Nepali Maoist priests. It used to be that the temple authorities would appoint its priests in conjunction with the king- and he was always happy to maintain the link with south India. The fiercely secular communists would have few qualms about dispensing with the services of the south Indian Brahmins. Nepalese Maoists have tried to destroy the identity of Pashupatinath, Living Goddess Kumari, Bikram Sambat and its calendar and every norm of Hindus.

The general belief is that if one offers milk, Dhaturo (a kind of intoxicating plant) and 'Belpatra' to Lord Shiva and observes night-long fasting, he or she will receive heavenly blessings. In Nepal, the festival is regarded as a national festival. The occasion consists of "warming" In Kathmandu, thousands of devotees from within and outside the country, predominantly from India, started thronging the Pashupatinath temple since early morning and queued up for hours to worship Lord Shiva. According to the Pashupati Area Development Trust, arrangements were made to provide security, accommodation, food, medical and communication facilities to the visiting devotees. On the occasion, the Nepal Army (NA) observed its annual Army Day coinciding with Mahashivaratri festival amidst a grand ceremony at the army pavilion in Tundikhel in Kathmandu.

It was a matter of grief that the Maoist Govt. in 2008, had appointed their own people as priests in Pashupatinath. We Nepalese people are worried that Pashupati complex is being used as a playground for politics.The Bhandaris are the traditional temple caretakers, including Nepalese nationalists the Bhandaris also protested against the decision of Maosts. The temple decision has led to demonstrations by Hindu groups. Nepal’s Supreme Court directed the temple authorities to clarify the controversy and not to let the newly appointed Nepali priests perform the rituals. The Supreme Court has ordered the trust to allow the three Indian priests to carry on with the rituals till its verdict.Traditionally; the temple authorities would appoint its priests in conjunction with the king.

King Gyanendra said to keep the hallowed Hindu shrine of Pashupatinath out of dispute and not to tarnish the image of Nepal as a country where different religions had co-existed in harmony down the ages'. So, the Pashupati temple should not be the place for the party's decision. Almost in 1343 AD in the regime of Licchabi, Muslim ruler Samsuddin, who hailed from Bengal (India) attacked Kathmandu and attacked Pashupatinath temple. After 665 years, more than a hundred Maoists and cadres of YCL (agnostic) broke the lock of the Pashupatinath's main shrine and took the newly appointed priest. It was a matter of regret.

Pashupatinath's area is regarded as one of the most important places of pilgrimages for the followers of Hinduism. Thousands of devotees from within and outside the country come to pay homage to Pashupatinath every day. And on special occasions like Ekadasi, Sankranti, Mahashivratri, Teej Akshaya, Rakshabandhan, Grahana (eclipse), Poornima (Full moon day) the whole atmosphere turns festive and mirthful as people congregate here in a far greater number.

During the Shivaratri (also spelled Shivratri) festival Pashupatinath temple is lit with ghee lamps throughout the night and the temple remains open all night. Thousands of devotees take ritual baths in the Bagmati River on the day of the festival and observe a fast for the whole day. Hundreds of Sadhus (sages) from different parts of Nepal and India come here on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri.

We want to protect and safeguard the heritage. The decision done by Maoist must be scraped out. Maoist followed the villainous part as played by Samasuddin from Bangal having a force of thirty one thousand Muslims plundering and vandalized the faith and trust of Hindu & Buddhist in Bikram Era 1400. The last Licchivi regime was very weak. There was a great chaos after the Muslims attack. To save the regime from such a dreadful situation Jayasthiti Malla, the Ksha King having cooperation and assistance from kings of Palpa, Kaski, Gorkha and Lamjung, attacked vigorously on Muslim army. Thirty thousand and four hundred soldiers were killed and almost six hundred fled away. It is carved and can be seen in Bhatapur Taleju temple.

Then, Jayasthiti Malla ascended the throne of Kathmandu and reconstructed the temple and constructed the Rama temple across the Bagmati river and established Kumbheshwar Mahadev and performed Kotihom (oblation for one Crore over the sacred fire) Believers in Pashupatinath (mainly Hindus) are allowed to enter the temple premises but non-Hindu visitors are allowed to view the temple from the across the bank of Bagmati river. Due to the attack of anti-Hindu Jayasthiti Malla laid the strict rule regarding the entrance for the Hindus & Buddhists only. This is inviolable. But, now the Bagmati River is dirty and can be smelled well before it comes into sight. So, at any rate, it should be non-dirty.

King Jyotirmalla writes in stone tablets- 'about Pashupatinath in 1465 Bs, lord Pashupatinath having five mouths along with worship able Bashuki the holy serpent. King Pratap Malla was famous in stone tablets. Prithvinarayan shah the great, worshipped lord Pashupatinath duing his integration of Kingdom. It is stated in Lingua Bambshabali. Prithbinarayan Shah had got carved in Basantapur Place in 1826 Bs after his Victory over Kathmandu valley-' Lord Pashupatinath & Goddess Guheshwari may bless Nepal for keeping sovereignty and stability along with Shah popular Regime’.

Royal seals were attached regarding the worship of Lord Pashupatinath by King Ranabahadur Shah, King Mahendra, King Birendra and King Gyanendra as well. Since 1979 Unesco has kept this core area as a world heritage. It encompasses four hector of land as a very sensitive area. Let this government be away from imposing political interference over Hindus & Buddhists. The decision done in contravention of all the rules & the regulations regarding the Pashupatinath worship is scraped immediately.

Nepal is the original land of Hindu and Buddha. Nepal is only one Hindu kingdom in the world. Then, without monarchy, the religious culture, traditions and the Hindu kingdom can't save. So, for the sake of Nepal and Indian security and Hinduism, there should be kept the existence of the Hindu monarchy in Nepal.